A novel colorimetric and fluorescent probe for simultaneous detection of SO32-/HSO3- and HSO4- by different emission channels and its bioimaging in living cells

A novel fluorescent probe ( E )-3-ethyl-2-(4-hydroxystyryl)-1,1-di-methyl-1 H -benzo-[ e ]indolium iodide (probe EDB) based on benzo[ e ]indolium was synthesized, which provided the simultaneous detection of SO 3 2- /HSO 3 - and HSO 4 - ion with different emission channels. Based on the principle of ion-induced rotation-displaced H-aggregates, when treated with NaHSO 4 , a fluorescence enhancement at 580   nm was observed with the excitation wavelength at 420   nm. While, in the advantage of the nucleophilic addition of SO 3 2- to the vinyl group, strong fluorescence was obtained at 455   nm when treated with Na 2 SO 3 with the excitation wavelength at 320   nm, along with obvious color change by naked eyes. So the probe could be applied to sense SO 3 2- /HSO 3 - and HSO 4 - ion via different excited and emission channels simultaneously. The probe was also applicable for fluorescence imagings of bisulfite and hydrosulfate in HeLa cells.